# iOS macro mode doesn't activate from within app **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Tags:** ios-classic-app\ **Created:** [November 6, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595 "2023-11-06T19:36:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elharo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/elharo/32/11154_2.png) [@elharo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/elharo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/1 "2023-11-06T19:36:10Z")
Please fill out the following sections to the best of your ability, it will help us investigate bugs if we have this information at the outset. Screenshots are especially helpful, so please provide those if you can. **Platform** iOS **App version number** , if a mobile app issue (shown under Settings or About): 3.3 build 711 **Description of problem** (please provide a set of steps we can use to replicate the issue, and make as many as you need.): When using the iNat IOS app Camera button to take a photo of an insect, or moss, or otherwise something small, it never seems to switch into macro mode no matter how close I get. This is less than ideal for jumping spiders and other small critters, which usually end up out of focus when I take a picture with my phone. If instead I switch to the built-in Camera app, the phone automatically switches into macro mode when I get close, and I get much better pictures for ID. ---
**Author:** ![thomaseverest](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thomaseverest/32/63220_2.png) [@thomaseverest](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thomaseverest)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/2 "2023-11-06T21:38:08Z")
I don’t think this is a bug. See also: [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/use-all-modes-of-phones-camera/21636/4](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/use-all-modes-of-phones-camera/21636/4) [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/no-way-to-switch-between-the-phones-cameras-in-the-app/21550](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/no-way-to-switch-between-the-phones-cameras-in-the-app/21550) ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/3 "2023-11-07T17:40:49Z")
I’m not able to replicate on my iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 17.0.3 and iNat app 3.3 (711). If I move the camera close to my keyboard it switches to macro view. Screen recording: [https://photos.app.goo.gl/PbfAAW1wN7Zm4Yfc9](https://photos.app.goo.gl/PbfAAW1wN7Zm4Yfc9) ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/4 "2023-11-07T23:29:53Z")
Also, apologies for my gross keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![elharo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/elharo/32/11154_2.png) [@elharo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/elharo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/5 "2023-11-10T00:54:19Z")
Not sure why you think this isn’t a bug. Those posts indicate it’s a problem too. ---
**Author:** ![elharo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/elharo/32/11154_2.png) [@elharo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/elharo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/6 "2023-11-10T00:57:41Z")
Interesting. I have an iPhone 15 Pro max at the moment, just updated to 17.1.1. I just checked again and while the app doesL - let me switch between 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x zoom - let me manually pick the focus point - turn on the flash when needed But it never moves into macro mode ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/7 "2023-11-10T01:31:06Z")
Would you be able to make a screen recording of the issue and either share it here or send it to [help@inaturalist.org](mailto:help@inaturalist.org)? ---
**Author:** ![thomaseverest](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thomaseverest/32/63220_2.png) [@thomaseverest](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thomaseverest)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/8 "2023-11-10T02:28:31Z")
Problem does not equal bug (the other posts are not bug reports). I was under the impression this is not something iNaturalist can control, but maybe that is not true. ---
**Author:** ![elharo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/elharo/32/11154_2.png) [@elharo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/elharo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/9 "2024-10-20T18:17:18Z")
Sorry it took me a while to get to this, but I have a video that shows with the camera app the macro button shows up, but taking a picture from inside iNaturalist the macro icon never appears. Seems I can’t upload a .mov to this thread, so I’ll email it to [help@inaturalist.org](mailto:help@inaturalist.org) ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/10 "2024-10-22T15:20:58Z")
Received your video. Using my iPhone 15 Pro running iOS 18.0.1, and the latest version of the app (3.3.5) I can get the macro mode to activate in the app when I hold it close to a subject, even though the macro icon (flower) doesn’t appear. Sometimes it will take a second to switch to macro mode, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/ios-macro-mode-doesnt-activate-from-within-app/46595/11 "2025-08-14T01:39:41Z")
Closing as there is a new mobile app for iOS and the old app is no longer being developed. See [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/inaturalist-next-app-soft-launch-for-iphones/55277](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/inaturalist-next-app-soft-launch-for-iphones/55277)